Modular communications devices
A set of parts for assembly into a reconfigurable communications device has at least an earpiece (16) a microphone (20) and a press-to-talk switch (24). These parts can be assembled together by respective connectors (19,22,26,29) and the device can be reconfigured by disconnecting and reconnecting with other parts of the set (for example different forms of switch and microphone) to meet other operational requirement.
This invention relates to a set of parts for assembly into a reconfigurable communications device.
One form of communications device comprises a microphone, an earpiece, and a switch operable to enable voice transmission from the device. An example of this is a conventional communications headset in association with a radio transceiver press-to-talk switch. Another example is shown in WO-97/25832 where the microphone and earpiece are arranged in a housing for attachment to a protective helmet and a cable leads through a connector to a control box and transceiver.
It is a problem with such devices that they are not usable in all circumstances. For example, if a single press-to-talk switch is provided it is not usable with two radios. In other circumstances, different forms of switches operable in different ways may be desirable. It may also be desirable to use different forms of microphone and to provide different ways of supporting the components on the user's body.
These requirements in the past have generally been met by providing different complete communications devices. It will be appreciated, however, that this is both complicated and expensive, and it is an aim of the invention to provide a modular form of communications device that can be readily reconfigured to suit different operational requirements.
According to the invention, there is provided a set of parts for assembly into a reconfigurable communications device, said set including at least:—
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- a first part comprising an earpiece and connector means for demountable connection to connector means of another part or parts of the set;
- a second part comprising a microphone and connector means for demountable connection to connector means of another part or parts of the set; and
- a third part comprising a switch operable to enable voice transmission from the device and connector means for demountable connection to connector means of another part or parts of the set;
whereby in use a communications device can be assembled by connecting together the connector means of selected parts of the set and can be reconfigured by selectively disconnecting the same and reconnecting with other parts of the set. In other words, parts of the device can remain the same but those needing changing for different circumstances can be added, removed or replaced.
The invention also resides in a communications device assembled from selected parts of a said set and in the method of assembling and reconfiguring such a device.
The following is a more detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which:—
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The first communications device comprises a headset unit indicated generally at 13 formed with a boss 14 to one side of which extends a boom microphone 15 and to the other side of which extends an earpiece 16. The boss 14 carries a second mounting part 17 which is a snap fit with the first mounting part 12 on the headstrap 10 to mount the unit 13 on the headstrap 10.
A connecting cable 18 also extends from the boss 12 and terminates in a first connector part 19. A microphone 20 for use with a respirator of the kind worn, for example, in battlefield situations, is connected via a cable 21 to a T-connector 22. One limb 23 of the T-connector 22 is a snap fit with the first connector part 19. A palm-mounted press-to-talk switch 24 is connected via a cable 25 to a second T-connector 26. One limb 27 of the second T-connector 26 is a snap fit with the second limb 28 of the first T-connector 22. An in-line connector 29 is a snap fit to the second limb 30 of the second T-connector 26 and is connected to a cable 31 that leads to, for example, a radio (not shown).
In operation, therefore, the headstrap 10 is worn around the head of a user and the unit 13 is snap-fitted on to the headstrap 10 via the first and second mounting parts 12,17. The respirator microphone 20 is connected to the respirator (in this embodiment the boom microphone 15 is not used). The palm press-to-talk switch 24 is strapped around the wrist using straps 32 so that a button 33 of the press-to-talk switch 24 lies within the palm of the user. The user can thus press the button 33 to activate the radio and speak via the respirator microphone 20.
Further embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to
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It will be appreciated that these are only examples of combinations that can be produced using the parts described above. Other combinations are possible. It will also be appreciated that, while the communications devices described above have a microphone 15, 47 and an earpiece 16, 48 permanently connected together, this need not be so. The microphone 15, 47 and/or the earpiece 16,48 may be replaced using connectors of the kind described above or other connectors.
Although the connectors described above with reference to the drawings are snap-fit connectors, they need not be snap-fit connectors. They could, for example be connectors that screw together.
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It will be appreciated that there may be other ways of mounting the communications devices than those described above.
Claims
1. A kit of parts for assembly into a reconfigurable communications device, said kit of parts comprising:
- a communications earpiece including an earpiece and earpiece connector means;
- a communications microphone including a microphone and microphone connector means; and
- a voice transmission switch including a switch operable to enable voice transmission from said reconfigurable communication device assembled from said kit of parts and voice transmission switch connector means;
- wherein the earpiece connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the microphone connector means and to the voice transmission switch connector means, the voice transmission switch connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the earpiece connector means and to the microphone connector means, and the microphone connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the earpiece connector means, and to the voice transmission switch connector means, whereby in use said reconfigurable communications device can be assembled by connecting together the connector means of two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch, and can be reconfigured by selectively disconnecting said connector means of said two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch and reconnecting said connector means of said two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch in different connection or reconnecting the connector means of any two of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch.
2. The kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein said communications earpiece also comprises a microphone, of different configuration to said microphone of the communications microphone.
3. The kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein said microphone of the communications microphone is adapted for use with a respirator.
4. The kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein said communications microphone has two microphone connector means arranged so as to demountable directly connect between the communications earpiece and the voice transmission switch.
5. The kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein said voice transmission switch is adapted to be mounted in the palm of a user.
6. The kit of parts according to claim 1, wherein voice transmission switch has two connector means arranged so as to demountable directly connect between the communications earpiece and the communications microphone.
7. The kit of parts according to claim 1 including one or more further parts each comprising a switch, of different configurations to said voice transmission switch, operable to enable voice transmission from the device, and connector means arranged to demountable connect directly to connector means of any one or more of: the communications earpiece, the communications microphone, the voice transmission switch.
8. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the switch of a said further part is a clothing-mounted dual press-to-talk switch.
9. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the switch of a said further part is adapted to be mounted around a finger of a user.
10. The kit of parts according to claim 7, wherein the switch of a said further part is a clothing-mounted single press-to-talk switch.
11. The kit of parts according to claim 1, including a further part comprising a microphone, of different configuration to said microphone of the communications microphone, and an earpiece, of different configuration to said earpiece of the communications earpiece, and connector means arranged to demountable connect to connector means of any one or more of: the communications earpiece, the communications microphone, the voice transmission switch.
12. The kit of parts according to claim 1, including one or more further parts each having a mounting portion by which said communications earpiece can be demountably supported so as to position the earpiece thereof adjacent to a user's ear.
13. The kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein a said further part comprises a strap to encircle a user's head.
14. The kit of parts according to claim 12, wherein a said further part comprises a clip for attachment to a user's helmet.
15. The kit of parts according to claim 12 wherein a said further part comprises a band to pass over the top of a user's head.
16. A communications device assembled from selected parts of a kit of parts according to claim 1.
17. A method of assembling and reconfiguring a communications device which comprises connecting together the connector means of selected parts of a kit of parts according to claim 1, selectively disconnecting the same and reconnecting with the connector means of a selected other part or parts of the kit of parts.
18. A kit of parts for assembly into a reconfigurable communications device, said kit of parts comprising:
- a communications earpiece including an earpiece and earpiece connector means;
- a communications microphone including a microphone and microphone connector means; and
- a voice transmission switch including a switch operable to enable voice transmission from the reconfigurable communication device assembled from said kit of parts and voice transmission switch connector means;
- wherein one or both of the microphone connector means and the voice transmission switch connector means comprises two connector members each arranged to demountably connect directly to a respective other of the earpiece connector means, the microphone connector means and the voice transmission switch connector means so as to demountably directly interconnect a respective two others of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch;
- wherein the earpiece connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the microphone connector means and to the voice transmission switch connector means, the voice transmission switch connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the earpiece connector means and to the microphone connector means, and the microphone connector means is arranged to demountably connect directly to the earpiece connector means and to the voice transmission switch connector means, whereby in use said reconfigurable communications device can be assembled by connecting together the connector means of two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch, and can be reconfigured by selectively disconnecting said connector means of said two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch and reconnecting said connector means of said two or more of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch in different connection or reconnecting the connector means of any two of the communications earpiece, the communications microphone and the voice transmission switch.
Type: Grant
Filed: Dec 14, 2001
Date of Patent: Nov 4, 2008
Patent Publication Number: 20040082360
Assignee: Rascal Acoustics Limited (Harrow)
Inventors: David Charles Gunter (Middlesex), Kenneth Albert Welch (Essex)
Primary Examiner: Nay Maug
Assistant Examiner: Zhiyu Lu
Attorney: Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, LLP
Application Number: 10/451,413
International Classification: H04M 1/00 (20060101);